Arsenal Take On Wolves in Key English Top Division Clash
Focus shifts for a compelling top-flight contest as league leaders the Gunners host bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Emirates Stadium.
Starting Lineups
Arsenal have introduced three changes following the side that endured a narrow loss at Aston Villa last weekend. The French defender, Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Martinelli all come into the starting eleven. Martin Ødegaard and the Spanish midfielder are named on the bench, while Riccardo Calafiori is not involved. Saliba returns after sitting out five matches through injury.
The visitors also make three adjustments to their starting XI after being skelped 4-1 at Molineux by United last time out. The experienced full-back, the Brazilian midfielder and Hwang Hee-chan are recalled. Ki-Jana Hoever and Arias drop to the substitutes, while Bellegarde is omitted altogether.
Confirmed Lineups
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Hincapie, Timber, Eze, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Johnstone, Mosquera, Agbadou, Toti Gomes, Doherty, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Krejci, Wolfe, Larsen, Hwang.
Substitutes: Tchatchoua, Mane, Lopez, Hoever, Chirewa, Arokodare, Arias, Santiago Bueno, Jose Sa.
Referee: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: John Brooks
Match Context
Good evening! And I mean, look at this …
The table reveals a stark contrast. Arsenal sit proudly at the summit of the Premier League, while Wolves prop up the division.
… however, even though this will be the 42nd occasion the top side have taken on the side propping up the entire table – with 30 out of 41, with seven tied games – who are behind two of the four historical shocks? Indeed, Wolverhampton Wanderers, of course! Therefore, although Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be expecting another victory, the Wolves boss must know that long shots occasionally succeed, and you never know. The start is at 8 o'clock in the evening GMT. Let's go!
(The remaining bottom-beats-top victories in the Premier League era are Oldham Athletic's 1-0 win over Manchester United in March 1993, and Tottenham Hotspur – admittedly, this one sounds a bit weird - defeating Liverpool in November 2008.)